Purposeful Life: Family Training Series
The Center on Disability and Development, Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley (DSABV), Families of Autistic Children Engaged Together for Support (FACETS), Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living (BVCIL), College Station ISD and Bryan ISD are hosting a free workshop series for parents and family members of children with disabilities. We are back to holding live events at Central Church. We provide dinner, childcare for children ages 2-10, youth training for children with a disability ages 11 and up and sibling support group for children ages 7 and up.
Purposeful Life Family Training series begins in September and ends in May. We will meet the first Thursday of the month (except in January.) Many thanks to Central Church for continuing to support our program and to P.S.U.N for providing childcare.
Spanish translation is available upon request.
- Guardianship and the Alternatives
- La tutela y las alternativas
- Making My Own Choices (Disability Rights Texas’ guide for supported decision-making)
- Tomando mis propias decisiones (guía de acuerdos para la toma de decisiones asistida)
- ARD Collaboration (English)
- ARD Collaboration (Spanish)
- Adolescence & Puberty (English)
- Adolescence & Puberty (Spanish)
- Behavior Intervention Presentation (English)
- Behavior Intervention Presentation (Spanish)
- Boundaries, Privacy & Consent (Spanish)
- Boundaries, Privacy & Consent (English)
- General Safety Information (English)
- General Safety Information (Spanish)
- Internet Safety Handout
- Internet Safety Handout (Spanish)
- Love is Friendship on Fire (English)
- Love is Friendship on Fire (Spanish)
- Mental Health First Aid for Parents (English)
- Mental Health First Aid for Parents (Spanish)
- My Body Safety Rule (Spanish)
- My Body Safety Rule (English)
- Understanding Evaluations
2022 Session Topics
February 3, 2022
Disability Benefits: What Are They and What Do They Mean For My Child?
Medicaid, Medicard Waivers, SSI… what are they? When and Who can apply for these service? Join us to learn more from our panel of experts about disability benefits.
- Watch the session video
- Disability Benefits Handout (English)
- Disability Benefits Handout (Spanish)
- Purposeful Life Brochure (English)
- Purposeful Life Brochure (Spanish)
- Watch the Texas ABLE account video
Shared Links
Success Conference Information
Social Security
Vocational Rehabilitation Information
March 3, 2022
Building a Parachute of Supports so Your child Lands Safely in Adulthood
Don’t let not knowing what supports are available for your child’s parachute be the gravity that limits their potential. Come join us to learn about our local supports and about an opportunity on how to meet them in person. Spanish translation is available.
Learn moreApril 7, 2022
Wanting Something Isn’t Enough: Creating Motivation for Life’s Needs
Creating motivation to stay healthy requires looking at the whole person and their five domains of health: physical, emotional, cognitive, social, & spiritual.
Fiona Allen, from Avocation Therapy, will discuss local resources to support recreation and leisure activities in the various domains so people with disabilities can meaningfully access & contribute to their greater community. Spanish translation is available.
September 1, 2022
Destination Behavior Change: Using a BIP as a Roadmap
Learn about Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) and how they are a support system, not punishments, that can be used across many environments.
Speaker: Kathryn Crawford, LSSP
October 6, 2022
Understanding Evaluations and Their Role in Education
November 3, 2022
ARD Collaboration
Learn about Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) and how they are a support system, not punishments, that can be used across many environments.
2021 Session Topics
October 7, 2021
Guardianships and Alternatives to Guardianships
Speaker: Jeffrey Miller, Policy Specialist from Disability Rights TX
Guardianship…what is it? Does every parent need to apply for guardianship before their child turns 18? How does a full guardianship affect your child’s independence and self-determination? What alternatives are available in Texas? Join us to learn more!
November 4th, 2021
Challenges, Changes and Choices: Helping My Child Deal With the Unexpected
Speaker: Lucinda Thelen, M.Ed., CAPE.
The topic is “Challenges, Changes and Choices: Helping My Child Deal With the Unexpected.” Think about the last year…everything has changed. While we slowly get back to a new normal, the past still affects our kids. Join us during this session to learn what signs to look for and actions to take to help your child cope with changes and what the future may bring. Spanish translation available.
- Challenges, Changes & Choices (English)
- Challenges, Changes & Choices (Spanish)
- Mindfulness Method (Spanish)
- Emotion cards (Spanish)
- Self Regulation
- Stress Scale (Spanish)
- Understanding causes of stress (Spanish)
- Ways to build Self-Regulation (Spanish)
- Purposeful Life Brochure (English)
- Purposeful Life Brochure (Spanish)
- Watch the session video
Decembr 2, 2021
Plan Ahead: What are Some Options after High School?
2019 – 2020 Session Topics
This season we will be incorporating tools from Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) into each session.
September 5, 2019
What’s Your Child’s Vision of a Good Life?
Life Trajectory – CtLC
Experiences Booklet – CtLC
Life Domains Vision Tool – CtLC
October 3, 2019
The Empty Chair…Who is Missing from the ARD Table
My School Portfolio – CtLC
November 7, 2019
IEPs – Making Them Count! Making the Most of your Child’s Time in School
December 5, 2019
Are you Teaching or Doing? Creating Independence
February 6, 2020
Behavior – What to do if Your Child is in a Crisis
March 5, 2020
Paving the Road for a Smoother Future – Getting Plugged into Your Community
2018 – 2019 Session Topics
September 6, 2018
Friendships: Making and Keeping Friends
October 4, 2018
The Road to Independence
19 Ways for a Parent to Step Back
Critical Skills for Independence
November 1, 2018
You or Google? Who Will Teach Your Child About Puberty
Autism Speaks Puberty Tool Kit
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Healthy Bodies for Girls
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Healthy Bodies for Girls Appendix
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Healthy Bodies for Boys
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Healthy Bodies for Boys Appendix
Parent’s Guide to Protecting Against Sexual Abuse
Puberty and Children on the Autism Spectrum
Talking to Your Child About Sexuality
February 7, 2019
What and How Will They Learn? IEP Goals Lead the Way
March 7, 2019
Love is Friendship on Fire – How Will You Teach Your Child to Stay Safe in the Flames?
April 4, 2019
Working Together to Make Behavioral Changes – Behavior Intervention Plans
May 2, 2019
Safety is no Accident – Teaching Safe Actions at Home and in the Community
2018 Summer Sessions
May 29, 2018
July 5, 2018
August 11, 2018
Adverse Childhood Experiences
2017-2018 Session Topics
September 7, 2017
Everyone has differences, mine just has a name – Talking to your child about his/her disability
October 5, 2017
Why punishing your child may not be working
Learn to change behavior with positive behavior supports (reference above materials)
November 2, 2017
You can get results (but they might not be for the best)
Collaboration With Schools (reference above materials)
December 7, 2017
Your unexpected journey – including the recurring grief of parenting a child with a disability
February 1, 2018
I’m not fine – Supporting the emotional needs of children with disabilities
Learn moreMarch 1, 2018
Phones and computers – how safe are your children?
April 5, 2018
“No means No” – Teaching your child to accept your “no”
May 3, 2018
We’re all in this family – Supporting siblings
2016-2017 Session Topics
January 7, 2016
How Can I Help My Child Have a More Purposeful Life?
Moving Toward Independent Living
February 4, 2016
Person-Centered Thinking Training for Families
March 3, 2016
ARD Meetings: An Opportunity for Self-Determination and Self-Advocacy
April 7, 2016
Understanding your Child’s Behavior
May 5, 2016
Life After High School…Planning Starts Now!
September 1, 2016
“Looking Ahead” – Series Overview & Speaker Panel
October 6, 2016
“Who is the I in IEP?” – Review of ARD and IEP
TEA Special Education Dispute Resolution Systems Handbook
November 3, 2016
December 1, 2016
“You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup” – Family Wellness
February 2, 2017
“My Kid’s Going To Be A Grown Up?” – Independence (MS/HS session)
I Can Do That! Independence (birth-elementary school session)
March 2, 2017
“Surviving Puberty – This Time As a Parent” – Adolescence and Puberty
Autism Speaks Puberty Tool Kit
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Healthy Bodies for Girls
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Healthy Bodies for Girls Appendix
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Healthy Bodies for Boys
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Healthy Bodies for Boys Appendix
April 6, 2017
“Behavior – What Are You Trying to Tell Me?” – Behavior Management